DUSHANBE, June 10, 2016, Asia-Plus – On Thursday June 9, Tajik Minister of Economic Development and Trade Nematullo Hikmatullozoda received a delegation of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), led by Mr. Mauricio Rosales.

According to the press center of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT), the main purpose of the visit is for Mr. Mauricio Rosales to launch a new project, Developing Capacity for Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition in Selected Countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia.

This US$ 6 million project is financed by the Government of the Russian Federation.  In addition to Tajikistan, the project will also be active in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. 

The new project is expected to integrate food security and nutrition governance, nutrition-sensitive social protection, nutrition education and nutritional health into a comprehensive food and nutrition security strategy.

The three-year project will include capacity building for policy-makers, government officials and professionals.  It aims to improve cross-sectoral coordination on food security and nutrition, national social protection, education and health programs and policies.

In the course of the talks, the two sides also discussed state and prospects of further expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and UN FAO.

The main priorities of FAO in Tajikistan are as follows: reduce dependency on food imports through supporting the Government’s Agrarian Reform Program for development of the agriculture sector and poverty alleviation; increased access to agricultural inputs and rehabilitation of agricultural systems; strengthening of institutional/local capacities and networking in the agricultural and rural sector; increase coordination among stakeholders for the development of the agriculture sector; an support government reform process in agriculture and facilitate a positive environment for agriculture - related private activities.